SUWAYDA, Syria (North Press) – Nearly three months after the wave of violence that swept through Suwayda Governorate in southern Syria, the village of Majdal, located in the governorate’s northwestern countryside, is making slow and fragile efforts to return to normal life. Yet the destruction and devastation left behind continue to delay the restoration of even the most basic services.
Despite widespread damage and the lack of electricity, water, and telecommunications, Majdal’s residents are determined to rebuild and adapt to their harsh new reality.
Burned homes and collapsed services
Anas Hossam al-Salman, a resident of Majdal, described to North Press the aftermath of the July 17 attack that forced most villagers to flee.
“We came back to our homes and found that half of the houses had been burned down,” al-Salman said. “My house, located at the entrance of the village near the university, was completely burned.”
He recalled that Majdal was once “one of the most beautiful villages to live in,” with around 40 shops and four pharmacies serving the community. “When we returned, we found nothing left. Now there is only one shop open,” he added.
According to residents, basic infrastructure was systematically targeted. “There’s no electricity; even the power transformers were destroyed, deliberately hindering our return. The wells no longer function, and the bakery operates only once every three or four days,” al-Salman said.
Suwayda, a predominantly Druze governorate in southern Syria, descended into turmoil in mid-July after a local dispute quickly escalated into widespread intercommunal violence. The clashes pitted local Druze militias against Sunni Bedouin tribal fighters and, at times, forces affiliated with the Syrian transitional government.
The weekslong unrest left behind a trail of mass killings, looting, forced displacement, and a surge in abductions and enforced disappearances—events that continue to reverberate across the region. International human rights organizations have documented serious violations and urged for an independent investigation into the abuses committed.
In response, Syria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Sept. 16 a six-step roadmap to address the crisis, developed with U.S. and Jordanian backing. The plan outlined measures to hold perpetrators accountable, restore basic services, compensate victims, and facilitate a reconciliation process involving Suwayda residents.
However, many in Suwayda rejected the initiative, denouncing it as a joint attempt by Washington and Amman to bolster the Syrian government’s influence in the south. Local groups instead called for genuine self-determination and the immediate release of abducted civilians.
Daily struggles and enduring hardship
Dawoud Hunaidi, another resident of Majdal, said the attack was “brutal,” accusing both transitional government security forces and allied tribal groups of committing “crimes of killing, looting, burning, and displacement.”
“After a short time, people began returning to the village, but public services were almost non-existent,” he added. “Electricity, water, bread, and telecommunications, all were cut off due to gunfire and extensive destruction.”
Despite the difficult circumstances, Hunaidi urged displaced families to return, saying, “We have no alternative to our homeland.”
Calls for rehabilitation
Meanwhile, Basil Areij, a resident of Majdal, stressed the urgent need to restore basic services.
“Today, what we need most in Majdal are basic services,” Areij said. “Thankfully, residents have begun returning and conditions are slowly improving. We hope the relevant authorities will give Majdal the attention it deserves.”
Areij highlighted education as one of the most pressing concerns, explaining that “there are more than 116 students in the village, which places a heavy burden on families whose children must study outside Majdal.”
Uncertain future
In addition to the transitional government’s investigative committee, the Supreme Legal Committee, formed by the spiritual leadership of the Druze community, continues to manage Suwayda’s legal, service, and security affairs.
However, with the relationship between Damascus and Suwayda still unsettled, and with accountability and compensation for victims unresolved, living conditions across the governorate remain dire. The restoration of services and infrastructure has become a critical demand for residents hoping to rebuild their lives after months of turmoil.
“People here are exhausted,” said Areij. “We just want life to return to normal.”